Car loading apparatus



April 19, 1949. A. D. SlNDEN 2,467,634

CAR LOADING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1946 7 Sheets-Shet 1 a mdmdm M w I 7 p 1949- A. D. SINDEN 2,467,634

I CAR LOADING APPARATUS Filed 00,- a, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 19, 1949. A. D; SINDEN CAR LOADING APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 8, 1946.

A. D. SINDEN cAR LOADING APPARATUS April 19, 1949.

7 Sheets-Sheet4 Filed Oct. 8, 1946 wdadmdm.

B. 9 v I II April 19, 1949. A. D. SINDEN CAR LOADING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Shet 5 Filed 001;. 8, 1946 April 1949- A. D. SINDEN CAR LOADING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 8, 1946 April 9, 1949. A. D. SINDEN V 2,467,634

OAR LOADING APPARATUS Filed Oct. a, 1946 fSfiets-Shej'? Patented Apr. 19, 1949 CAR LOADING APPARATUS Alfred D. Sinden, Aurora, 111., assignorto Stephens Adamson Mfg. 00., a corporation of Illinois Application October 8, 1946, Serial No. 701,935

16 Claims.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my abandoned application Serial No. 526,711, entitled Apparatus for handling loose bulk material, filed March 16, 1944, which disclosure, so far as consistent herewith, is made a part of the present disclosure by reference.

This invention relates to apparatus for conveying and loading or piling loose material ranging from finely divided pulverulent material to coarse material such as coal. More particularly my invention relates to the type of material handling apparatus that comprises, broadly, means to convey material to a distribution point in combination with a material-thrower to project the material to a trajectory from that point.

For the purpose of the present disclosure I shall describe the invention as employed for loading bulk material into freight cars, it being understood that the range of usefulness of the invention is not limited to such disclosure.

Among the objects of my improvement are: to save time and trouble in setting up such apparatus for operation; to save time in manipulating the apparatus for changes in distribution after the apparatus is in operation; to avoid maladjustment or faulty operation arising from such manipulation; to increase the flexibility of such apparatus with respect to the range of distribution, especially with respect to the throwing trajectory; and to provide a car loader for operation inside a car under remote control outside the car with respect to the direction the material is thrown.

With reference to loading freight cars, the utility of my invention may be appreciated by considering the widely employed loading procedure involving the use of a portable material thrower constructed in the manner taught by my Patent No. 1,597,393. When a freight car is spotted for loading, a gangplank is provided for wheeling the thrower into the car and then an overhead material conveying duct or chute is led into the car and positioned to drop material into the open hopper of the thrower. When it is necessary to make any substantial change in the throwing direction, such as a change from one end of the car to the other, it is necessary to stop feeding material to permit the necessary maneuvering of the thrower for the shift in direction.

In car loading practice the objects of my invention are attained by connecting the material thrower directly to the conveying chute and supporting the whole combination by means outside of and independent of the car in such manner that only a simple pivotal movement is required to swing the apparatus from a retracted position clear of the car to an extended position inside the car suitable for loading both ends of the car in one continuous uninterrupted operation. In

the connection between the thrower and the coriveying chute, provision is made for preventing the release of dust, and for rotating the thrower to different discharge directions without inter rupting the loading operation. 7

Further objects of the invention are:

1. To provide for supporting a thrower by fixed means outside of a car in such manner as to permit the thrower to be moved into and out of the car with relatively little manual effort on the part of the operator;

2. To provide such an arrangement wherein only a simple arcuate [movement is required to shift the thrower from a retracted position outside of the car to a position a sufiicient distance inside the car door opening for distribution therefrom to all parts of the car interior; and

3. To provide such an arrangement that will pass through a door space of suhiciently small vertical dimension to permit the device to clear a relatively high grain board across the door opening.

As will be made apparent, these further objects are made by certain novel measures including the construction of the apparatus for movement into and out of the car on a substantially horizontal arcuate path, the spotting of cars off center to permit such movement on a curved path having a relatively long radius and the use of certain expedients to minimize the vertical dimensions of the apparatus.

The above and other objects of my invention will be apparent in the following description taken with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of my invention in position for loading a car;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus in the same position; T

Fig. 3 is a rear View, on an enlarged scale, of the material thrower employed in Figs. 1 and 2, the viewing direction being indicated by the arrow 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the material thrower;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken as indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 i a transverse section taken as indicated by the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken as indicated by the line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, indicating how the motor may be shifted to a new location when desired;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view, taken as indicated by the arrow ill in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section, taken as indicated by the line ll--ll of Fig. 9;

'ing' means in the chute.

Fig. 12 is a fr .gmentary section taken as indicated by the line l2l2 of Fi 11;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the secondembodiment of the invention on a reduced scale, showing the apparatus in one operating position;

Fig. 14 is a similar view with the material thrower turned to a different direction; and

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the apparatus in the position shown in Fig. 14.

General arrangement of a preferred embodiment The form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to '7 is a preferred embodiment for loading loose bulk material from a large storage bin into freight cars; for example, a freight car 2| on the track 22. The principal parts of this apparatus are a conveyor chute 23, preferably downwardly inclined, and a material thrower generally designated 25, the latter being mounted on and supported from the conveyor chute by a suitable rotary connection 24, which rotary connection is preferably a swivel joint. In accord with my basic concept the material chute 23 is suitably supported outside the car for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis between a retracted position outside the car and an extended operating position inside the car. Since the material in this instance is to be supplied from the vertically extensive storage bin 20, the chute 23 may be pivotally mounted on U the storage bin, as shown.

The storage bin 20 is provided with a suitable spout 26, having a gate 2'! for the control of material flow therethrough. The gate may be conveniently raised and lowered through a suitable gear and rack mechanism including a gear 28 on a shaft 30 and a continuous chain 3! hanging from a sprocket wheel 32 on the shaft, the loop of chain being within reach of an operator below.

The chute 23 is connected to the spout 26 by a swivel joint 33 having a substantially vertical axis, and the weight of the chute 23, together with the appended thrower 25, is carried by a pair of spaced brackets 35 on the bin 20 coaxial with the swivel joint. Journaled in the two brackets 35 is a substantially vertical tubular frame member 36, the top of which is directly and rigidly connected to the chute 23 and the bottom of which is rigidly connected to the chute by a transverse frame member 31. In effect the chute 23, the vertical frame member 36, and the transverse frame member 31 comprise a unitary frame structure, with the transverse frame member under compression and the chute 23 under tension to carry the weight of the thrower 25.

Certain dimensional and spacial relationships in this specific form of the invention are to be noted. In the first place, while the chute 23 need not be inclined as shown, it is advantageous to use an inclined chute since material may flow therethrough by gravity without the complications and added weight of mechanical convey The elimination of weight factors is important, because one of the objects of my invention is to design the appara- "tus for convenient manual movement between the retracted and extended positions well within the strength of one man.

It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the'inclination and the elevation of the chute 23 are such as to the car door when the apparatus is in extended or loading position. In the plan view (Fig. 2)

it will be noted that the discharge end of the chute 23, together with the appended thrower 25, move between the two positions of the apparatus on an arcuate path M). The radius of curvature of this path and the location of its center of curvature are such that in the movement from the retracted position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to the extended position shown in solid lines the discharge end of the spout and the appended material thrower first move past one side edge 45 of the car door with suitable clearance and then, during the remaining move rnent, approach the opposite side edge 42 of the door.

In this specific arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the arcuate path 40 extends nearly degrees and the operating position of the chute 23 is nearly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the car 2!. A longer radius may be used with a lesser angular difference between the two positions of the apparatus so long as the material thrower 25 hangs well inside the car at the extended position of the chute. The minimum dimension for the radius is determined by two considerations-the necessity for positioning the thrower in the car and the clearance necessary between the car and the retracted apparatus to avoid hazards in switching the car. The arouate path 40 in Fig. 2, which is close to minimum,

has a radius of approximately 5 feet 2 inches.

As may be understood from an inspection of Fig. 2, the car 2! is spotted with the door opening off center relative to the vertical axis on which the apparatus is mounted. A feature of my invention is the concept that such unorthodox spottin makes possible the employment of a loading apparatus that may be shifted between retracted and operating positions by a simple pivotal movement about a vertical axis. This movement of the apparatus about a vertical axis is an important feature of this preferred form of the apparatus, not only because it permits the apparatus to be shifted from one of its positions to the other in a single simple movement but also because it eliminates any necessity for overcoming gravity in moving to either of the two positions. Thus the whole apparatus may be much too heavy for one man to lift and yet may be readily swung between its two positions by one man without great effort.

The material thrower Broadly described the material thrower 25 employed in the preferred practice of my invention is constructed on the same principle as the thrower forth in the above-mentioned patent; that is to say, the essential combination comprises an endless belt forming a loop, two rotary means on two spaced axes engaging the belt inside the loop, and a third rotary means on a third axis pressin against the belt outside the loop to form the belt into a material pocket with an inclined throwing surface. An important feature of the pres nt embodiment. however, is the concept of changing the inciination of such material pocket by simply changing the position of one of the three rotary means relative to the thers, thereby to change the trajectory of the discharged material. Among the advantages ol this expedient is that it avoids the necessity for shifting the material thrower bodily to change the trajectory, and therefore the change may be made quickly and with little effort.

In the improved material thrower 25 the continuous belt 45 is shown looped around a first rotary means in the form of a driven roller 46,

and a second rotary means in the form of an idler roller 41, a third rotary means in the form of two spaced wheels or discs .8 pressin downward against the belt to form a concavity or pocket 50 having a throwing surface 5! generally inclined forward.

It is desirable that this general arrangement for delivering material to the belt pocket be dustproof, and any suitable dustproof swivel joint may be employed for the rotary connection 24.

Material is delivered from the inclined chute 23 to the belt pocket 50 through a material receiving passage 52 provided by a hopper 53.

Turning; to the details of the construction shown in Figs. 3-7, it will be noted that the rotary connection 24 is a swivel joint in which a radial flange 55 on the end of the chute 23 rotatably supports a plate 543 that is unitary with the thrower 25. The plate 55 has a circular opening 51, the rim of which slidingly rests on the radial flange 55. The plate 55 seals the top of the hopper 53, and, along with the hopper, serves as part of the frame structure of the thrower 25. The rest of the frame structure comprises a pair of vertical channel irons 58 for side members and a tubular frame member fill interconnecting the lower ends of the two channels.

Mounted on each of the two channels 58 are suitable bearings 6! to carry -a shaft 62 on which the two pocket-forming discs or wheels 43 are mounted. On the other side each of the channels 58 carries a suitable bracketES for a bearing 65 to journal the shaft 66 of the driven roller 46. For alignment and adjustment the two bearings 65 are movable forward and rearward, being guided, for example, by slidin engagement with suitable slots (not shown) in the brackets 63. For such adjustment each of the bearings 65 may be provided with a threaded rod 61 extending through a flange fit of the corresponding bracket 63, there being a pair of nuts 15 on the rod to adjustably engage the flange.

For actuating the driven roller #6 a sheave H is connected. to the outer end of the shaft 66 and is connected by a belt 72 with a second sheave T3 at a lower level. The second sheave i3 is carried by a suitable motor 15 which is shown as carried by a pair of sleeves l5 embracing the previously mentioned tubular frame member 59. If desired, the motor may be freely rotatable on the tubular member 5c so that the weight of the motor acts to keep the belt 12 tight at all times.

The desired relative movement among the three rotary means for varying the configuration of the belt 45 may be provided, for example, by mounting the idler roller 47 on a yoke, generally designated ll, for arcuate movement about the the plate having a longitudinal slot 83 in its end to clear a shaft 85 on which the idler roller 41 is mounted. The U-shaped flange 82 carries a pair I of short guide rails 86 spaced away from the plate 8| to slidingly carry a bearing 8! in which the corresponding end of the shaft 85 is journaled.

'For adjustably positioning the bearing 81 along the guide rails, the bearing may be provided with a threaded rod 88 extending through the back .portion of the U-shaped flange 82, the rod carrying two nuts 90 for adjustable engagement with the flange.

Any suitable arrangement may be employed to control the angular position of the yoke 11. In the particular construction shown in the drawings, the yoke construction includes a radially extending arm 9! the end of which is provided with a pin 92 adapted for engagement by a short forked arm 93. The forked arm 93 is part of a bell-crank mounted on a suitable spindle 95, the other arm of the bell-crank being a forwardly extending control lever 96 positioned and adapted for manual manipulation by the operator of the apparatus.

Preferably suitable means is provided to releasably retain the control lever 96 at selected positions for causing material to be discharged at selected trajectories. For example, a suitable detent member 9'! may be pivotally mounted on the lever 96 by a ,pair of ears 98 to releasably engage an arcuate rack N35. The detent member is shown with a handle portion ml which is normally spaced from the control lever by the pressure of a suitable spring I02. It is apparent that the control lever 96 may be swung through a vertical arc to change the angular position of the yoke fl and may be secured at various selected positions by the detent member 91.

The spacing, dimensioning and relative positioning of the various movable and adjustable parts for controlling the configuration of the pocket 59 in the belt 45 are such that angular movement of the yoke Tl about its axis varies the extent to which the belt makes contact with the two spaced discs 48 and yet keeps the belt sufficiently tight. In other words, angular adjustment of the yoke ll varies the extent to which the belt is wrapped around the peripheries of the two discs 48, and the arcuate path through which the yoke carries the idler roller Ill is such as to shorten the distance between the idler roller and the driven roller 45 to compensate for the extent to which the belt is taken up by increasing peripheral contact with the spaced wheels 48. It is apparent that the radius of the arc through which the driven roller is movable and the positioning of the center of curvature of that are must be such as to accomplish the desired variation in the belt contact and simultaneously to compensate for the variation.

In one successful embodiment of my invention constructed substantially as shown in Figs. 3 to 7, and in substantially the depicted proportions, the following dimensions may be found: the axes of the two shafts 62 and 66 for the pair of discs 48 and the driven roller 46 respectively, are on a horizontal plane ten inches above the axis of the yoke 11, with the axes of the two discs 48 approximately 31% inches from the center line of the frame channels 58 and the axis of the driven roller 46 approximately 6 /2 inches on the channel center line, the latter distance, of course, being adjustable by virtue of the threaded rods 51. The diameter of the two discs 48 is 12 inches, and the diameter of the two rollers 45 and 41 is 8 inches. The radial distance of the axis of the idler roller 41 from the axis of the yoke in shaft may be, for example, 12% inches, this radial distance being adjustable by virtue of the threaded rods 88. The endless belt 45 is 10 inches wide and 6 feet long. With the recited dimensions the yoke may be shifted through an angle of ten degrees, but the wrapping action of the belt against the pethe operator charged material is much greater than ten degrees. Preferably the arrangement is such that -maximum elevation of the yoke causes material to be discharged at approximately forty-five degrees from the horizontal.

Operation The manner inwhich the apparatus is operated may be readily understood from the foregoing description. When the apparatus isout of use it is normally in the retracted position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. When a car 2! has been spotted in the desired off center position,

the operator standing in the car doorway may reach out and pull the apparatus to the extended ,position to place the material thrower 25 at a distribution station inside the door. The material thrower in the above-mentioned successful embodiment of my invention weighs approximately three hundred pounds, but since the level of the thrower does not vary throughout the arc of movement, and since the bearings in which the apparatus is pivotally mounted are designed for low friction, no great effort is required for the operator to move the apparatus into position.

When the apparatus is in its extended position starts the motor 15 and then reaches out to the chain 3! to open the gate 2"! for starting flow of material to the thrower. Throughout the loading operation the operator turns the thrower 25 on theswivel joint 24 to discharge the material in various directions on trajectories of various lengths to load the car.

completely from the one distribution station. The operator may control both the direction and the angle of the material discharge solely by simple manipulation of the control lever 95, change of direction being accomplished by moving the lever about the axis of the swivel joint 24 and control of the trajectory angle being accomplished by swinging. the control lever vertically about the axis of the bell-crank spindle 95. Thus the loading is accomplished in one continuous operation with no interruptions in the flow of material for changes in the throwing direction. The range and adjustability of the thrower is such that it is not necessary to change the angular position of the inclined chute 23 throughout the operation.

When the car is loaded the operator simply pushes the apparatus back to its normal retracted position. It is not necessary to use a gangplank at any time, nor is it necessary to handle the .chute 23 and the thrower Z5 separately with con tinual attention to the relation between the two.

The described apparatus may be moved into and out of a car without interference by the grain boards or other material-retaining means placed across the lower portion of the car door.

opening, if such retaining means is of moderate height.

Where the material is relatively light and the material-retaining means across the lower portion of the doorway must extend to substantial This shift in the position of the motor reduces the vertical dimension of the material thrower feet 6 inches, measured downwardly fromthe top of the car door opening. If the minimum vertical dimension of a car door opening is taken as 7 feet 9 inches, a representative dimension, and if allowance is made for lowering of the car level during the loading operation, the apparatus may be mounted at sufficient elevation to clear grain boards 2 feet high across the lower portion of the car door opening.

Such grain boards are indicated at l0! in Fig. 8.

(Second embodiment of the invention Figs. .9-15) The second embodiment of the invention, shown in Figs. 9 to 15, is mounted in the manner heretofore described for movement in a horizontal arcuate path about an upright axis, the mounting means including two brackets H0 on a support means HI to one side of the railroad track. A tubular frame member H2 is pivotally mounted in the two brackets H0 and supports the lower end of a rigid brace H3. P An inclined conveyor chute, generally designated H5, shown as inclined downwardly for gravitational fiowof material, is supported by the rigid brace H3 and the upper end of the tubular frame member H2 for rotation about the substantially vertical. axis of the tubular frame member. Theupper end of the conveyor chute H5 is connected by the usual swivel joint H6 with a spout H1 in the manner heretofore described.

Preferably the inclined conveyor chute H5 is substantially straight, and includes a hollow member or cylinder H8 that is. telescoped over the lower cylindrical end of the conveyor chute, and is mounted thereon in a suitablyrotatable manner. A material thrower I20, on the lower end of the conveyor chute H5, has a passage means EU for receiving materialfrom the chute, which passage means is united withthe rotary cylinder H8 to serve in effect as an extension thereof.

The material thrower I20 is of the same general construction as the material thrower 25 heretofore described, and includes the usual material throwing belt 45 and the associated three rotary means 46, 41 and 48. The material throwing mechanism is driven by the usual belt 12 from a motor 15, which motor may be mounted onthe rotatable cylinder H8.

A feature of the described construction isthat the material thrower i2El, being in effect carried by the rotatable cylinder H8 on the lower end of the conveyor chute I [5, may be turned to different throwing directions merely by rotating the cylinder H8, such an arrangement facilitating remote control in this respect. Any suitable arrangement may be provided for such'remote control. In the preferred practice of my invention I provide control means convenient for an operator standing on a platform 122 (Fig. 14) outside the car.

In the present construction, as best shown in Figs. 9 and 11, the upper endof the rotatable cylinder H8 fixedly carries a suitable gear 123 in mesh with a control worm I25. The control worm I25 is carriedby a control shaft I26, which shaft is journaled in a suitable bracket I21 supported by the previously mentioned rigid brace II3. On the outer end of the control shaft I26 is a control sheave M8, the rotary position of which is governed by a continuous chain 939, the chain 100p being within convenient reach of the operator on the platform.

It is also desirable to have the material thrower I20 adjustable with respect to the elevation or angle of the trajectory of the thrown material, and it is further desirable that the trajectory adjustment be remotely controlled. The drawings show, by way of example, a suitable arrangement for remotely controlling the throwing angle of the belt 45.

In the construction shown the throwing angle of the belt 65 is controlled in the usual manner by the angle of a pivoted yoke I3I carrying the rotary means ill, this yoke corresponding to the previously described pivoted yoke 11. The yoke I3I is provided with a suitable bracket I32 for pivotal connection to a longitudinally extending control means I53 in the form of a long rod, the lower end of the rod being connected to the bracket I32 by a suitable pivot pin I35. The control rod I33 slidingly extends through a suitable guide plate I36 mounted on the upper end of the cylinder I i8, and the rod carries at its upper end what may be termed an arcuate control plate I3I, the plate having an inner edge iii substantially concentric to the axis of the conveyor chute H5. It is apparent that the position of the control plate I3? longitudinally of the conveyor chute I5 determines the longitudinal position of the control rod I33, and thereby determines the throwing angle of the belt 45.

As best shown in Figs 9 through 12 inclusive, the control plate I31 slidingly extends between a pair of pins I40 on the outer end of a control arm I II, so that rotation of the control arm shifts the control plate longitudinally of the conveyor chute H5. The control arm I4! is keyed to a shaft I42 that extends into a gear box I43, in which gear box the shaft I l-2 carries a forked arm I 45 (Fig. 12). The forked arm M5 engages and is governed by a traveling nut M5 on a worm m. The worm I l'l is unitary with a shaft Hi8 that carries a second control sheave I55, and a second continuous chain I5I extends downward from the control sheave I59 within convenient reach of the operator.

The operation of the second embodiment of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The apparatus may be easily swung from a retracted position outside the car into a loading position inside the car door, since the required movement is along a horizontal path and involves no gravitational resistance. It will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. that here, again, off-center spotting of the car with respect to the car door makes it possible to have the apparatus move in a simple arcuate horizontal path between its two positions.

It will be noted that the material thrower lZE, as well as the conveyor chute H5, is inclined, the material thrower being inclined in the same manner as the chute. Such inclination of the material thrower causes the material throwing belt 45 to be positioned further inward of the car.

One of the most important advantages of this second embodiment of the invention. characterized by the inclination of the material thrower is that the apparatus will swing through a doorway space of relatively short vertical dimension. In fact, so little vertical clearance space is required by the apparatus that the grain boards or materialretaining means I52 in Figs. 13 and 14 may extend as high as 4 from the bottom of the door without interfering with movement of the ap- .paratus into and out of the car. I Y j My description in detail of preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of 'dis-- closure and by way of illustration'will suggest to those skilled in the art various changes and substitutions under my basic concept, and I reserve the right to all such departures from my description that lie within the scope of my appended tion of the chute and rotatable about said axis with the chute for supporting the discharge end of the chute laterally away from said axis and a material thrower mounted on the discharge end of said chute by a rotary connection whereby the thrower may be manually rotated relative to the chute through a range of throwing directions, said material thrower being of vertical dimension substantially less than the vertical dimension of the car door opening and the horizontal path of movement of the material thrower being spaced substantially above the level of the car floor to permit the use of temporary material-retaining means across the lower portion of the car door opening.

2. In a material handling apparatus of the character described, a substantially rigid down- Wardly inclined material chute mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis near its upper end for movement of its lower end in a predetermined substantially horizontal arc'v from a retracted position outside of the car through the car door opening to a loading position inside the car, rigid means acting in compression to support said. chute for movement between said two positions, a material thrower at the lower end of said chute and having'a'rotary' 5 connection therewith, and means operatively con.-

nected with said thrower for manipulation to revolve the thrower to different throwing directions, said material thrower being substantially less in vertical dimension than the car door opening and being spaced substantially above the car floor so that temporary material-retaining means may span the lower portion of the car door opening without interfering with movement of the material thrower into and out of the car.

3. In a material handling apparatus for load- I ing loose bulk material into a freight car, a conveyor chute pivotally connected to an anchorage to swing about an upright axis substantially off center with respect to the car door opening for movement from a retracted position clear of the car to an extended position with the discharge end of the chute moving in a predetermined subtion of the center of curvature-of the are being such th at in the extending movement of the chute the discharge end of the chute'andthe thrower first pass one 'side edge of the car door opening and then approach the opposite side edge of the car door opening so that at its extended position the chute is near said opposite-side edge with the'thrower inside the door opening'in a position for loading the car.

4. In a material handling apparatus for loading'loose bulk material into a freight car, a conveyor chute pivotally connected to an anchorage to swing about an upright axis substantially on centenwith respect to the car door opening-for movement from a retracted position clear of the car to an extended position with the discharge end of the chute moving in a predetermined substantially horizontal arc, and a material thrower at the discharge end of said chute, saidmaterial thrower having a rotary connection with the chute'for rotation-through a range of throwing directions, the radius of said are and the location of the center. of curvature of the are being such that in the extending. movement of the chute the discharge end of the'chute and the thrower first 'pass' one sideedge of the car door opening and then approach the opposite'side'edge of the car door'opening so that at its extended positionithe chute is near said opposite side edge with the thrower inside'the door opening in a terial into a freight car spotted on a track, the" combination of'supporting means spaced to one side of the track, a conveyor chute 'pivotally connected to said supporting means for rotation about a substantially vertical axis positioned off center with respect to the spotted 'car'with said axis nearer to one side'edge of the car door opening'than" to the center of the car door opening, and "a' material thrower'supported on:the"dischargeend of 'said chuteby a rotary connection for rotation'relative thereto through a range of throwing directions, the length. of said chute relative to said axis and the spacing of said axis from the track being such that the discharge end-of thechute 'together with the materialthrower swing past the other side edge of the car door opening to a final car loading position with the chute ina plane approximately perpendicular'to thelongitudi'nal axis of the car and nearsaid one'side edge of the car door opening whereby the chute and thrower'may be swung in a simple are between a retracted positionclearing the car and said loading position without the necessity of P overcoming gravity."

6'} In anapparatus forloading loose bulk material into a=freight car on a track, the combina-- tion of 'a'supporting means spaced to one side of th'e tra'ck, an inclined conveyor chute pivotally' connected to said supporting'means to swing about 'a' vertical axis through said pivotal con-'- nection-from" a retracted position clear of the car to -a*'loadi'n-g position extending through the car door opening; and a material thrower mounted 'on the dischargeendof said chutefor rotation relative thereto about the inclined axis of the chute through a range of throwing directions, said thrower being mounted at a level relatively near to the top of the car door opening with consequent reduction in the vertical dimension'of space required therefor whereby the material thrower may be swung into the car interior and clear a relatively high material-retaining means spanning the lower portion of the car door opening.

'7. In an apparatus for loading loose bulk material into a freight car spotted on a track, the combination of supporting means spaced to one side of the track, an inclined conveyor chute pivotally connected to said supporting means for rotation about a substantially vertical axis positioned on center with respect to the spotted car with said axis nearer to one side edge of the caridoor opening than to the center of the car door opening, and a material thrower supported on the discharge end of said chute by a rotary connection for rotation relative thereto through a range of throwing directions, said material thrower being inclined and being rotatable about an inclined axis, the length of said chute relative to said vertical axis and the spacing of said axis from the track being such that the discharge end of the chute together with the material thrower swing past the other side edge of the car door opening to a final car loading position with the chute in a plane approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the car and near said one side edge of the car door opening, whereby the chute and thrower may be SWlln-g in a simple are between a retracted position clearing the car and said loading position without the necessity of overcoming gravity.

8. In an apparatus for loading loose bull: material into a freight car on a track, the combina tion of supporting means spaced to one side of the track, a conveyor chute pivot-ally connected.

to said support to swing from a retractedlposi tion clear of the car to an operating position ex-v tending through. the car door .openingsald'chute' being downwardly inclined toward its discharge end and being substantially straight througha out its lower portion, and a material thrower mounted on the discharge end of said chute for rotation through a range of throwing directions about an axis substantially co-incident with the axis of said straight lower portion of the chute.

9. In an apparatus for loading loose bulk ma terial into a freight car on a track, the combinationof a supporting means spaced to one side of the track, an inclined conveyor chute pivotally connected to said supporting means to swing from a retracted position clear of the car to a loading position extending through the car door opening, a material thrower mounted on the discharge end of said chute for rotation relative thereto through a rangeiof throwing directions, said chute being mounted at a level relative-1y near. to the top of the car door opening and said thrower being inclined with consequent shift of the material thrower inwardly of the car and with consequent reduction in the vertical. dimension of space required therefor whereby the material thrower may clear a relatively high material-retaining means spanning the lower portion of the car door opening, and means including mechanism on said chute to rotate said material thrower by remote control outside the car when the chute is in loading position.

10. In an apparatus for loading loose bulk material into a freight car on a track, thecombinw tion of a supporting means spaced to one side of the track, an inclined conveyor chute pivotally connected to said supporting means to swing from a retracted position clear of the car to a loading position extending through the car door opening, an inclined material thrower mounted on the di charge end of said chute for rotation through a range of throwing directions about an axis substantially co-incident with the inclined axis of the chute, said thrower being adjustable with respect to the elevation of its throwing trajectory, and means operable outside the car when the conveyor chute is in loading position for remote control of the trajectory adjustment of said ma terial thrower.

11. In an apparatus for loading loose bull; material into a freight car on a track, the combination of a supporting means spaced to one side of the track, a conveyor chute pivotally connected to said supporting means to swing from a retracted position clear of the car to a loading position extending through the car door opening, a material thrower mounted on and supported entirely by the discharge end of said chute for rotation relative thereto through a range of throwing directions, said material thrower being adjustable with respect to the elevation of its throwing trajectory, means operable outside the car when the conveyor chute is in its loading position for remote control of the rotary position of the material thrower, and remote control means operable outside the car when the conveyor chute is in its loading position for changing the trajectory adjustment of said material thrower.

12. In an apparatus for loading loose bulk material into a freight car on a track, the combination of a supporting means spaced to one side of the track, a conveyor chute pivotally connected to said supporting means to swing from a retracted position clear of the car to a loading position extending through the car door opening, an inclined hollowmember extending downward from said chute with the upper end of the hollow member outside the car when the chute is in loading position, said hollow member being rotatable relative to the chute, a material thrower mounted on said hollow member to receive material from the chute, said material thrower being adjustable with respect to the trajectory of the thrown material, means including mechanism on said chute to rotate said hollow member by remote control outside the car, and means including mechanism on said chute to adjust the throwing trajectory of said material thrower by remote control outside the car.

13. In an apparatus for loading loose bulk material into a freight car on a track, the combination of a supporting means spaced to one side of the track, a downwardly inclined conveyor chute pivotally connected to said supporting means to swing from a retracted position clear of the car to a loading position extending through the car opening, said chute comprising two telescoped cylinders, a material thrower mounted on one of said cylinders at the lower end of the chute, said material thrower being inclined in the same general manner as the chute, gearing to rotate said one cylinder relative to the other cylinder for changing the direction of discharge of said material thrower, and remote control means operable outside the car for actuating said gearing.

14. In an apparatus for loading loose bulk material into a freight car on a track, the combination of a supporting means spaced to one side of the track, a downwardly inclined conveyor chute pivotally connected to said supporting means to swing from a retracted position clear or" the car to a loading position extending through the car door opening, an inclined hollow member extending downward from said inclined chute with the upper end of the hollow member outside the car when the chute is in said loading position, said hollow member being rotatable relative to the chute, a material thrower mounted on said hollow member to receive material from the chute, said material thrower being adjustable with respect to the trajectory of the thrown material, means extending longitudinally of said chute for longitudinal movement to vary the trajectory of adjustment of said material thrower, and means operable outside the car when the conveyor chute is in its loading position for shifting said longitudinal means for change in the trajectory of the thrown material.

15. In a material handling apparatus of the character described, a substantially rigid downwardly inclined material chute mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis near its upper end for movement of its lower end in a predetermined substantially horizontal are from a retracted position outside of the car through the car door opening to a loading position inside the car, chute supporting means operatively connected to a portion of the chute and rotatable about said axis with the chute for supporting the discharge end of the chute laterally away from said axis, and a material thrower at the lower end of the chute having a rotary connection therewith and supported by said chute, said rotary connection permitting the thrower to be moved angularly to different throwing positions.

16. In a material handling apparatus of the character described, a substantially rigid downwardly inclined material chute mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis near its upper end for movement of its lower end in a predetermined substantially horizontal are from a retracted position outside of the car through the car door opening to a loading position inside the car, chute supporting means operatively connected to a portion of the chute and rotatable about said axis with the chute for supporting the discharge end of the chute laterally away from said axis, a material thrower at the lower end of the chute having a rotary connection therewith and supported by said chute, said rotary connection permitting the thrower to be moved angularly to different throwing positions, and means to change the vertical angle at which the material is delivered from the thrower.

ALFRED D. SINDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 988,674 Ticknor et a1 Apr. 4, 1911 1,083,479 Boardman Jan. 6, 1914 1,934,939 Manierre Nov. 14, 1933 

